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My insurance took only 2 days for final authorization. Horizon Blue Cross/shield . They allow up to a week.

Hey guys! So I'm almost 3 weeks out and was doing great with my weight loss. At 2 weeks I was down 17 lbs. Then I got extremely sick. Horrible back pain and a UTI. Besides the horrible pain, the UTI ha prevented me from urinating and haven't loss any weight. I'm so bummed because I was doing so good. I am on antibiotics (shots and crushed pills) but I can hardly keep down the pills. Anyone have any advice, suggestions, motivation?

I'm using coconut oil at least once a week, firming lotion at least twice a week, and Vitamin e oil once a week. Other days I use lotion (Lubriderm, in a pump bottle -- yikes! ) Also, I exfoliate a lot. Mostly because I'm trying to prevent sagging, but so far my skin hasn't been too dry. Also, I've been told to avoid too hot Water in showers and baths.

Feel great about it! Everyone loses at a different pace. The minute you start comparing your loss to those of others you will come out on the short end of the stick. Don't go there, it's destructive to your mental attitude. As long as you are following your surgeons and NUT plan, and I'm sure you are especially this early out, your body won't have a choice. It will come off. It didn't get put on in a month and it won't come off in a month. People tend to drop large amounts more rapidly when there is higher BMI. Slower, the lower your BMI is. Celebrate that you have taken this amazing step toward your health and well being and let your body do the losing. Hang in there, it will get better and better each week and month.

Welcome!!! I just starting posting myself after lurking forever. This site is amazing and everyone seems so friendly. Congrats on your upcoming sleeve...mine is a week after yours- so we can go through this together! I ordered some samples of the shake you mentioned and hopefully those will taste better than the GNC Lean Protien. I wish you the best and make sure to post about your recovery...you have a ton of friends now!

Well done. That's excellent weight loss. I have lost 55 lbs in 13 weeks. Only really got 35 lbs to go...although not sure if I want to lose that much. It sure is a journey lol Xxx

I was banded on June 11, 2009. I was under the assumption that by now (day 3) I would be feeling much better than I am. In fact, I feel worse today than I did yesterday. I am so bloated, I cannot wear any of my pants! It even is uncomfortable for me to put on a bra. The less restrictive the clothing, the better. Anyway, my concerns are that something may be wrong, or maybe I just need desperately to have a bowel movement. I haven't had one in close to a week, and taking the pain reliever liquid my doc prescribed is only making it worse. I've tried using Gas-X strips...but to no relief. I have some Murilax stool softner, but am wondering if it will really help, or just make me more bloated, gassy, and in pain. Anyone use this product post op? And when will this pain go away? It's not just my port area. It's my entire abdomen. It feels like I am being punched in the stomache really hard, over and over. Please help with suggestions! Thank you.

I put my Multi Vitamin patch on sometime after dinner but before bed. This way no worries to hide it during the day or at work. I like putting it right on my upper arm/shoulder. I live in South Florida so a lot of sleeveless blouses. My NUT said all the Vitamins I need are in the Multi. I get my blood work in a couple of weeks. They only do them after two months, but I won't be home for another three weeks, so my two month follow up is more like 2 1/2 months. However, with that said, I had already purchased the B12 patch. I decided to use that also. That one must go on during the day (it may interfere with sleep if put on at night). Now that one, I rotate around in order to hide it. If I'm going to the beach or pool, I will alter the time of day as it isn't waterproof. I can attest, it doesn't come off in the Water, but I'm told it isn't waterproof. Let me say this, one time I had put my multi on my back shoulder over a tattoo. when I pulled it off, it hurt and caused some irritation. I have no idea if it was over a tattoo, but its been two weeks and still is sensitive. I won't be applying it there again.

God is good! I made it through surgery! I was the first case 7:30 sharp. Woke up at 4:00 am speed dressed woke my hubby up, still going from the mag citrate! Got to the hospital at 5:30 went and registered with admissions. 5:45 up to preop weighed in no Weightloss even with all the crapping! 6:00 Iv in first try yes! bp heart rate.blood sugar normal. 7:00 taken down to surgery, kissed my hubby good bye, waiting for my nurse to see me in surgery. Said a prayer, nurse came over talked to me, surgeon came over talked to me, met anesthesiologist gave me a sedative to relax then wheeled me into surgery. During this time I was strangely calm, this was my first surgery ever! The anesthesiologist places a mask over my face told me to breath deeply 3 times and that's all I remember. I don't remember dreaming, being awakened from surgery, recovery room nada. I remember waking up in my room seeing my friends that I work with fussing over me placing me on telemetry, telling me where my painbutton is. I turned to my hubby asked him if they did the surgery. He said yes the surgeon told him surgery went well. Thank you God. By 3pm I was up walking, pain minimal, Foley catheter uncomfortable, back to bed minimal nausea. 5pm kids.up to see me sat up in the chair for a while quite groggy. Still minimal pain. This entire experience has been good minimal pain, don't feel like I has surgery, very little nausea. only set back my diastolic bp has been through the roof. Saw my regular Dr Friday got put on another bp med. Hopefully that will change soon, I will see the surgeon today. Highest weight 255 preop 242 current weight 229 I've lost 13lbs in a week pretty shocking.

Tomorrow will be 2 weeks since my surgery. My doctor had me on clear liquids for a week. I am supposed to be on liquids, cream soups and protein shakes this week and next week. I cannot drink the protein shakes. I have tried several kinds but they either get stuck going down or they make me nauseous and upset my stomach. I'm worried I won't heal like I should with no protein for 3 weeks. Has anyone been through this or have any advice?

I am 4 weeks post op and getting light headed any time I look down even if it's to put something in the oven...anyone else have this problem or have any idea why this would be happening?

I feel as i am able to down numerous Protein shakes, yogurt, sugar free pudding, sugar free Jello and popcicles, etc... and while i am full for about 5 minutes, it then just goes straight through me. Cottage cheese seems to help hold me over a little longer. It's been about 3 weeks since surgery and my GI doctor told me to experiment with some foods that i may be able to tolerate. Softer foods, but not liquids. I'm really craving oatmeal. I have sugar free oatmeal packets. Does anything think this is a safe food for me at this point? I'd have to measure it out so i don't go overboard (i LOVE oatmeal) but i think it would really hit the spot and take the hunger off for a while. Anyone try oatmeal at 3 weeks out?? Also, are high Fiber foods bad right now? Filling, low calorie foods are supposed to be good, but i don't want anything that will swell too much and get stuck or cause vomiting. Any food suggestions? Sorry for posting so much guys this is just so new to me, and i am damn sick of yogurt and pudding!!!

I am almost 2 years banded and still occasionally get stuck. Just this last week, twice on turkey!! I refuse to throw it back up, just walked and walked, with chewing papaya enzyme tablets and finally it moved down. I tend to miss meals on weekend and I get so hungry, either I take too big of a bite or don't chew enough. Wouldn't you think I would learn by now. I would hate to see if I had any fill, never had a fill and probably a good thing for that. Hopefully we will learn down the road....

Yeah I am new to this as well!!! I did however find out what it was like to "slime" this week twice!!!! Two mistakes I made! I first ate a few bites of grilled chicken and then followed it with a liquidity soup!!! OH yeah the no drinking extends to not eating soupy Soup on top of real food too!!! It wasn't anything I wouldn't consider eating separately but together was bad!!! :) And then....after two days of all liquids, like we are supposed to do after getting stuck/sliming, I ate broccoli for the first time since surgery. OMG!!! That was painful and slimy! So again with the two more days of liquids for me!!!! HANG IN THERE BANDSTERS!!!!:thumbup: Live and learn! Oh yeah no more stringy veggies for me !!!

My surgery was on Octobe 23rd. I had bad shoulder pain for 2.5 weeks..it was awful. It slowly went away and i no longer have it. Id tell your doctor about it and see what he says. Sounds like you may still have some air trapped in there. Try walking alot and drink lots of fluids. Another thing that helped me with the pain was heat pads. Id use the bags you can put in the microwave for a few min. That eased the pain. good luck. :tongue2:

I still have 3 weeks before my surgery I wanted to create a post about hair loss. As a Licensed Cosmetologist I want to share something that I haven't come across in lot of these threads. Although hair loss with this type of surgery may not be something that we can not avoid, it sure doesn't hurt to try and avoid it! We want to be healthier and skinnier and NOT bald! We all know it's important to keep your scalp clean and in good condition for proper hair growth. Using a good professional shampoo is very important, as other shampoos can cause a waxy build up that will weigh the hair down and could possibly make it fall out faster. It is important that you switch up your shampoos! Shampoos like Nioxin are great for thinning hair but if used day in and day out it will have major drying effects on the hair and scalp. It is also important that you keep your hair and scalp moisturized so a good conditioner along with a good scalp treatment is very important for maintaining a healthy scalp! Taking your Vitamins daily and meeting your Protein goal is so VERY important!!! So here is my suggestion: Scalp Manipulations! Scalp Manipulations is a technique that may help increase blood flow to the hair follicle and strengthen the roots. Warming the the scalp before the massage will help open the blood vessels which increases blood flow. The better circulation to the hair follicles may help nutrients strengthen the hair cells and encourage proper growth function. If you google Scalp Manipulations there is a site that shows your how to massage your scalp properly. So using a warm hot oil treatment and having your scalp massaged for about 10-20 once or twice a week could have huge benefits for your hair and could most defiantly slow down or stop hair loss. These are all things that you can do right at home! Also another thing to try is to put a deep conditioner in your hair, cover it with a plastic bag and blow dry it for about 3-5 minutes to warm the scalp. Then remove the bag and start massaging the scalp, it not only feels wonderful but it is so beneficial! Please do not over due and of these suggestions, 1-2 per week is enough! You can find a great deep conditioner at you local beauty supply store or make a homemade hot oil treatment right at home! Also I few things I forgot to mention above is to keep your hair trimmed regularly and back off the styling products and hot irons! Also NO tight fitting hats during this time, this decreases the blood flow to the scalp which in turn could cause more hair loss or slow it down. Hopefully you find these tips helpful:)

Another great thing is Biotin. I've been taking it for three months now and my hair is thick and growing like wild weeds. I'll continue to take it after my surgery. I'm a licensed cosmetologist as well. But I like to handle hair and scalp conditions with a more natural and holistic approach. A good oil for massaging the scalp is jojoba oil because it mimics the natural oil on the scalp called Sebum. Garlic supplements also can help prevent thinning hair and breakage.

Congrats. I also was not hungry the first week or so

So I am 10 days post op and the incision where my port is has started hurting like crazy! It didnt hurt for the first week but the past few days has been hell! Every time I lay on it or push it against something it hurts so bad! And to make matters worse I sleep on my stomach. Ughh has anyone else had this problem or is something wrong? Im kinda freakin out

My surgery date is the 31st, and I just started my pre-op diet. Last week when I talked to my surgeon I asked him about the smoking thing. He said it takes at least 2-3 weeks for your lungs to start to heal and during that time you cough a lot of junk up. (which I remember from when I tried to quit before) So, he said if I haven't quit by now, not to until after you heal. He said he REALLY doesn't want me to cough a lot post-op. Of course, he added that the surgical center won't release me until my oxygen levels are where they need to be and smoking can make that difficult, so I might have to spend more time in the center. I just figured if I tried to quit smoking, stay on a low-carb diet, and prepare for life-changing surgery all at once I would probably end up on the front page of the newspaper with a headline that reads "IRATE WOMAN KILLS EVERYONE IN HER PATH!"

I totally understand I went 2 weeks with no loss then I started eating more and weight started coming off again. Don't worry!

I was diagnosed with insulin resistance probably 15 years ago and have been diabetic for about 5 years. I was banded September 2008. Happily, my weight loss has not been slower than usual. I've lost about 50 pounds in almost 5 months. So that is right on par for about a 1 to 2 pound weight loss per week. Good luck to you.

I should be starting my pre-op diet in a few weeks. I heard that the diet can bea little uncomfortable for the first few days, I think I'm going to start drinking my shakes next week to get myself started. Good luck with your pre-op & surgery !

I dumped twice this week. Hard to describe...first time upset stomach...bit of nausea, feeling woozy and generally unwell. Second time all of the above plus hot flashes as well...lasted about an hour. Caused by drinking my shake too fast.

Try not to think of it as "good" or "bad". Life happens! We just gotta stick to our exercise routines, and eat well the majority of the time to offset it. I had a few big slip ups these past few days that I feel guilty about, but all we can do is move forward with a solid plan for this upcoming week.